We arrived home from America to find a cold, damp and dismal landscape awaiting us. I instantly missed the brightness and warmth of the Californian Sunshine and craved anything that could bring that back.
Happily for me there was just the thing sitting in my post pile- I’d been sent a brand new product from Dr Botanicals, their Lemon Superfood all-in-one Rescue Butter* (quite a mouthful) to try out.
My first impression was that this look like sunshine in a tube. I love the bold, bright packaging!
This is a multi-use product that promises to moisturise and treat skin problems and can be used literally anywhere on your body. It’s made from 96% natural ingredients, including lemongrass oil, coconut oil, almond oil, grapeseed oil and sea buckthorn fruit oil.
As you would expect, this has the most incredible lemony-fresh scent, I couldn’t help but smile as soon as I squeezed some out.
It’s a nice and thick consistency and rubs in well. I’ve mostly been using it as a hand treatment (as my left hand is subject of a lot of attention right now) and as a general all over soother when hay-fever itches get too much.
It’s the perfect size for keeping in my handbag, and despite my concerns that something so scented may actually irritate my skin ,I’m delighted to say it doesn’t.
All in all this is a fantastic all rounder product that costs a reasonable £14.90 (currently £9.90 on the Dr Botanicals website). You will also find it on many of the well known online beauty retailers.
Just when I thought our dream holiday couldn’t get any more perfect (and rest assured, there are a few holiday re-cap posts in the works), Bob asked me to marry him in a secluded nook by the Lower Yosemite Fall Trail.
I didn’t hesitate in accepting. Tears (of joy) were shed.
It was the most perfect proposal, and a complete bolt out of the blue for me. He filled me on how he made it happen, which made some little bits of oour holiday suddenly make sense, but I honestly didn’t see this one coming (although it seems most of my friends and family had an inkling). He did such an amazing job pulling it off and for picking such a beautiful ring- you can’t see but it has a sapphire nestled under the diamond so I already have my “something blue”.
It happened almost ten days ago and it still feels very surreal, partly, I suspect to the four day jet-lag marathon we seem to be running.
I’m so excited to spend the rest of my life with this man.
Very few things in this life cause stress and worry quite like financial problems. Tragically, millions of people are caught in the vicious cycle of paying off one creditor only to fall behind with another. If you are one of them, now is the time to finally regain control of the situation. To do this successfully, though, you must first learn to appreciate the reasons why you’re facing these issues in the first place.
Here are five of the most common reasons why you’re struggling to escape those nightmares, hopefully this will help you feel able to begin to tackle the problem sooner rather than later.
Organising your finances in relation to what you think you’re spending is a good starting point. However, analysing the full picture is essential if you want to plot your escape from debt. These hidden costs are draining your finances while several of them are avoidable. Reorganising yourself to ensure that you prevent those needless costs will make an immediate impact. Moreover, the improvements will follow you for many years to come.
2| Not Knowing Your Worth
Even if you adore your job, you should realise that the main motivation for working revolves around money. Unfortunately, bosses aren’t going to increase wages unless they need to, which is why millions are getting underpaid. Visit https://www.adzuna.co.uk/jobs/value-my-cv to gain a deeper insight into what you should be getting paid. Use this data to negotiate a pay rise. Or if that fails, don’t be afraid to start looking for a new job at another company.
3| Living In An Excessively Large House
Most people dream of living in the huge family home. Whether you’re a homeowner or a tenant, though, it’s important to be realistic about your needs. A big house costs more to heat, insure, and furnish. While it’s crucial to have enough space to live, downsizing to a more appropriate size can work wonders. As long as you learn to maximise the storage space, you should find that you will be just as happy. Besides, having more money will allow you to enjoy the home with greater results.
It’s important to focus on maximising your revenue and organising your bills. Nonetheless, it’s equally crucial to make your money work harder when making big consumer decisions. Buying a car is a great example where looking at used cars and considering finance agreements can pay dividends. Visit CH Render to learn more. You could save thousands overall. Meanwhile, renting an outfit you’ll only wear once can save cash too.
5| Allowing Others To Hold You Back
We all want to help our loved ones on a financial front. This is all well and good when your finances are in good health, but you should never put yourself at financial danger to aid someone else. The harsh reality is that we all have our issues and responsibilities. If a friend cannot accept that you’re not in a position to help, perhaps they weren’t as close as you thought. It’s OK to put your needs first, especially when dealing with finances. Do not forget it.
Would you like a pair of jeans that can make you feel safe and look good? Freddy has designed a special pair of patented trousers which enhance the female figure with a shaping effect. Maybe you’re wondering: How does WR.UP® work?
High Quality for your Comfort
We guarantee that there are no magic tricks! The answer is actually quite simple. The trousers patented by Freddy, because of the high-quality material, the panels and the seams positioned strategically. This blend guarantees complete harmony for you and your hips.
The Freddy WR.UP® trousers are different and unique from any other pair of trousers in the wardrobe: Freddy’s clothing is elastic, comfortable, durable and perfect for any occasion and any time of day. WR.UP® technology has been designed to help her enhance her body and feel more feminine and sexy at the same time. Freddy has developed a sporty version of the WR.UP®. Each exercise can evolve into a work of art that allows you to fully appreciate yourself in everyday sports life, without ever abandoning your femininity. WR.UP® sport exists for all tastes: from darker or lighter jeggings to larger and wider jeggings, from skinny stretch cotton or jersey to clothes suitable for the gym.
These Pants fit like a Second Skin
The delicate second skin effect of Freddy WR.UP® perfectly shapes the waist, thighs and hips thanks to the high quality of the fabric that reinforces in strategic positions. These strategically placed reinforcements allow the Freddy WR.UP® to have such a beautiful and irreplaceable effect: the bi-elastic jersey not only determines the shape, but also the B-side and encloses you like a second skin, you will not even realize that you are wearing them! Perfecting perfection takes shape with WR.UP® by holding the pants up and in place thanks to a special silicone band. Now, your body is a work of art!
The patented WR.UP® technology is the result of Italian research that led to the development of this technology. Thanks to this modern design, Freddy uses the highest quality materials and silicone to enhance your curves in a completely natural way. The silicone band is placed around the waist and will help sculpt and shape the pattern, keeping the pants in an upright position. The belt under the buttock, together with the particular stitching and shape of the trousers, will define and lift them, enhancing your sensual femininity.
Available in 4 versions
The extraordinary Freddy WR.UP® trousers are elastic, comfortable, durable and available in 4 versions: low, regular, medium and high. You can choose the perfect pants for yourself, and wear them as if they were tights, unrolling them along your legs naturally. The only indication we want to give you is to keep them in mind to always unbutton them.
This revolutionary technology innovated by Freddy and these WR.UP® pants will steal your heart and it will be difficult to go back to any other pants. Once you have discovered the comfort feeling these pants offer to you, it will be impossible to turn back and change pants!
Choose Freddy WR.UP® in four different collections:
Looking at this photo I have convinced myself I have missed something, but I couldn’t tell you what…anyway, as per last month this is another short and sweet recap of this foodie subscription box, I haven’t had as much time to try everything as I would like due to going on holiday on Friday and still having what seems like an impossible amount to do.
This month’s box had a brunch/afternoon tea theme and contained some fantastic products…
Splenda Sweet Minis; I am a sweetener user and Splenda is one of my go-to brands. This dinky little dispenser is perfect for on the go (I keep one on my desk at work) and is available in all major supermarkets for around £1.50.
These are one of Bob’s all time favourite treats, and I’m quite partial to them too. A crunchy waffle with delicious caramel inside- a Dutch institution for a reason. If you’re yet to try them, I 100% recommend Daelmans’ brand.
I’m always on the lookout for healthier snacks, and whilst aimed at kids I love the fun packaging of the Fruity Beauties bar. High in fibre and and easy 1 of your 5 a day, these are tasty enough to feel more of a treat than a healthier option.
I love tea and I love adding to my stash. This was the product of the month this month. I love the flavour of apricot in everything and this is light and refreshing. It’s ideal for work as it tastes as good cold as it does hot- and getting a piping hot drink at your desk is a rarity. Available on the Oteas website.I was most intrigued by these Seaweed puffs from Shore. These crunchy sea salt & balsamic snacks are dangerously more-ish and I wish they were more widely available. Indie Bay pretzel bits have become a regular in my cupboard, again, a bit addictive! Both of these snacks have less than 100 calories per pack and boast way more benefits than a packet of crisps.
Milkybar mixups are new to the market and are the first new product from Nestle I’ve been vaguely excited about in a while. Milk and white chocolate all jumbled up in a handy snack sized bag (also in sharing pouches), these aren’t groundbreaking by any means, but they’re still good! For those avoiding sugar I highly recommend these midget gems from Bravura Food. They are also vegan and gluten free so a great all rounder. I’d love to try more from this brand.
Gin Cornichons? I didn’t even know what a Cornichon was! Turns out it’s a mini gherkin and these ones are infused with gin. I haven’t had a chance to try these yet, but I am mighty curious and will be sure to report back. Likewise I haven’t tried the vegan mayo from heinz- we’re not mayo lovers in this house, but it seems like a great addition to the brand’s range. I’d be curious to hear thoughts from those who have tried it.
Drinks! Firefly Drinks lemon, lime and ginger and a Laura sized bottle of prosecco, fantastic! I’m yet to crack in to either, I think I’ll save the fizz for post holiday blues, and the firefly drinks for when I’m in dire need of some goodness. I just love this brand’s packaging.
I’ve used Koko brand coconut milk for years off an on in porridge. This super milk is enriched with 9 vitamins and minerals making it an excellent replacement for full fat milk- therefor making it ideal for kids and adults alike. I haven’t tried this yet as I didn’t want to open it so close to holiday and end up wasting some, but I am excited to try it.
Finally we have another ketchup from the Real Good brand. I’ve tried their no added sugar regular ketchup before (and approved) and this smokey BBQ flavour it another hit. I like this as a dip for sweet potato fries, but I think it’d also make an ideal marinade and is perfect for setting out at a BBQ.
Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought in the comments.
If you’re new to Degustabox, it’s a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money. On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.
If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £5.00 off of your first box (making it just £7.99!) by entering the code 6HZJ8 at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.
